Neither one of these teams deserves this game. It just doesn't feel right.

Then who does??

The Buckeyes didn't back in. Everyone else backed out. It was up to those teams to solidify their spot and they didn't do it. Everyone knew what they had to do.

I hope you're not implying Kentucky should be there. WV got BEAT by PITT at home or they would've been in. The other 2 loss teams didn't finish their business.

The Buckeyes played 12 games in 12 weeks with no bye and lost 1 game to a solid Ill team. That night Ill could've beaten anybody. They played the game of their lives andf hats off to them for getting to the Rose Bowl.

The funny thing is that OSU didn't plan on being a contender for the national title this year. This was a rebuilding year which was why they picked those soft teams out of conference. We lost 8 starters on offense that are playing on Sundays including the heisman trophy winner. Tressel is a true Ohioan and gave those teams within the state a chance at some attention. Nothing more. Trust me. He didn't think this was a BCS title year.

Next year we play at USC because we are going to make another run at it. Hopefully, as defending champs for a back-2-back run.

Say what you want, but respect 3 National championship games in 6 years.

The Bucks love this position....remember Jan 2002 as heavy under dogs to the 'Canes. Last year as favorites, they crapped all over themselves. If you play that Florida/OSU game 10 times, that outcome happens 1 time. Florida was not that good, and OSU was not that bad.

Now, this year, OSU hasn't been given a chance by anybody (except the occassional Buckeye fan....aka Hunted466)...the local media, national polls, etc. (and no they didn't back into this game.....for all of you 'they backed into this' people....FYI, WVU lost a regular season game, Kansas lost a regular season game...all the teams with an arguement ....MINUS MIZZO...lost their games in the regular season).....the conference championship games didn't eliminate "the best" teams...if anything, helped OU and LSU. Even if Mizzo would have won their game (the only team really affected by the extra game), OSU would still be in.

Therefor...don't count OSU out b/c you think they backed in. They may not win....but will cover the 6 1/2 to 8 1/2 point spread once they release the line.

The Buckeyes didn't back in. Everyone else backed out. It was up to those teams to solidify their spot and they didn't do it. Everyone knew what they had to do.

I hope you're not implying Kentucky should be there. WV got BEAT by PITT at home or they would've been in. The other 2 loss teams didn't finish their business.

The Buckeyes played 12 games in 12 weeks with no bye and lost 1 game to a solid Ill team. That night Ill could've beaten anybody. They played the game of their lives andf hats off to them for getting to the Rose Bowl.

The funny thing is that OSU didn't plan on being a contender for the national title this year. This was a rebuilding year which was why they picked those soft teams out of conference. We lost 8 starters on offense that are playing on Sundays including the heisman trophy winner. Tressel is a true Ohioan and gave those teams within the state a chance at some attention. Nothing more. Trust me. He didn't think this was a BCS title year.

Next year we play at USC because we are going to make another run at it. Hopefully, as defending champs for a back-2-back run.

Say what you want, but respect 3 National championship games in 6 years.

GO Buckeyes!

Hey man if anybody wants OSU to win is me. I despise LSU. I just think that it doesn't feel right. We do need a playoff, but sadly money from the bowl system wins out again. Good luck to your team however.

Hey man if anybody wants OSU to win is me. I despise LSU. I just think that it doesn't feel right. We do need a playoff, but sadly money from the bowl system wins out again. Good luck to your team however.

Thanks Bro! I'm with ya on feelings towards LSU AND their coach. That's another area where we have a distinct advantage.

chanki- I don't want to jinx it but I've got that same '02 feeling again. I heard it every week this year too."They haven't been tested until now (RE Purdue,Penn State, Wisconsin). We like being the underdog.

We don't need to have our fools kissed by the media to get our respect. We'll earn it on the field! Then again, we don't need to play this game because we can't handle SEC speed and we're just going to be embarrased again. We should just give the title to the SEC. No other conference should be allowed to play them.

Come to think of it, I don't recall any of those boys comin up our way in a while. Hmmm.

Hate to go against you my friend, but I feel the Big 10 is really down this year, as MANY Div-1AA schools and smaller, have beaten your big name schools, and embarrassed them in the doing.

Ohio State's schedule just doesn't stand the test this year.

Hey, maybe they win.....

but my money is on those Bayou Bengals.

The only thing I'm worried about is the status of Les Miles, and how his team reacts to all the Bull garbage concerning whether he stays or goes. If he's really staying, there shouldn't be any problem, but who the hell knows just WHAT he's going to do -- does he even know himself?

Hate to go against you my friend, but I feel the Big 10 is really down this year, as MANY Div-1AA schools and smaller, have beaten your big name schools, and embarrassed them in the doing.

Ohio State's schedule just doesn't stand the test this year.

Hey, maybe they win.....

but my money is on those Bayou Bengals.

The only thing I'm worried about is the status of Les Miles, and how his team reacts to all the Bull garbage concerning whether he stays or goes. If he's really staying, there shouldn't be any problem, but who the hell knows just WHAT he's going to do -- does he even know himself?

Not the Buckeyes my friend. #1 Defense in the country ALL year. Don't blame the Buckeyes that the rest of the Big 10 wasn't dominant. Be careful and good luck.

I have not completely crunched this one down and have a lot of homework to do on it with the personnel match-ups and the X's and O's but...

Something tells me the Bayou Bengals are going to knock the Buckeyes into next week! They are simply more physical and - at this point - I can't see OSU hanging with them for four quarters...especially on a fast track in LSU's home state...

Sorry Hunted and Grego...I may still go with you guys on OSU...as I say, I never officially pick a game until I complete my homework!Good luck, men!!

I just capped the game and believe that OSU is a better matchup with LSU than okla, geor, or usc. I believe LSU will win, but i'm not entirly sure they will cover. I hate being on herbstreits side, and it does get annoying about how much of a homer he was on sunday night but I leaning on the underdogs to cover like they have in past championships. Its just too bad it will be OSU and LSU that have to play in the championship. Definetly one of the worst years ever. I will see though, i need to see other peoples insight on the game. It might just be a no play for me though.

I have not completely crunched this one down and have a lot of homework to do on it with the personnel match-ups and the X's and O's but...

Something tells me the Bayou Bengals are going to knock the Buckeyes into next week! They are simply more physical and - at this point - I can't see OSU hanging with them for four quarters...especially on a fast track in LSU's home state...

Sorry Hunted and Grego...I may still go with you guys on OSU...as I say, I never officially pick a game until I complete my homework!Good luck, men!!

No problem my Brother

I'm a homer. No question. But I've also watched both teams every week and see how this could go lopsided the other way.

Just a thought that all might want to consider....

Miami was also supposed to wipe the floor with us in '02. That Miami team was more dangereous than this LSU squad and this Buckeyes squad is better than the '02 team. This game will not be a repeat of last year.

Tressel is one of (if not)thebest coaches in NCAAF. They will not come out flat again. Les Miles has distractions, over confidence, and a Michigan attitude. That is not lost on Coach Tressel. He lives to beat Michigan and that's exactly what Miles represents. There are intangibles at play here that should not be underestimated.

I don't get this "SEC is the best conference" crap. You can make an argument that they are all equal. IMO watching LSU this year and betting for and against them, their defense resembles swiss cheese. My other favorite team, as Hunted pointed out, was expecting this to be a rebuilding year, but apparently no one else wanted to play for the national championship. The OSU defense is awesome and at the very least will contain this LSU offense. No more than 4 touchdowns. LSU's swiss cheese defense easily give up 24-40 points. OSU should cover this and perhaps win outright in this year of chaos. Although, if LSU wins, and the voters decide another 2 loss team was better than LSU their is a shot at another split national title and maybe a breakdown of the whole Bullshit Championship System. As a gambler, however, I'd take Ohio State until I hear any injury updates for LSU. Their defense has just looked atrocious to me. GLA

does anyone like the under here?? The 1st and 3rd best scoring defenses in the country?

I love the under in this game Hawkeye. I see it at 50 now in my book... after opening at 51.5. I may grab it early while it's still at half a hundred. This could easily be a 17-10 type of game, maybe a tad higher but there's a lot of wiggle room there. I look at each team's last game, and figure this total to be somewhere in that range. (Ohio St 14-3 over MI, LSU 21-14 over Tenny - with help from an INT return.)